U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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2,280 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Reporter arrested, phone confiscated while covering NC homeless camp eviction

Incident Details

Updated on
June 4, 2025
Date of incident
December 25, 2021
Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Case number
1:24-cv-00307
Targets
Matilda Bliss (The Asheville Blade)
Case status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Asheville Police Department
Charges →
  • Trespassing
    • Dec. 26, 2021: Charges pending
    • April 19, 2023: Convicted
    • April 19, 2023: Pending appeal
    • June 16, 2023: Convicted
    • March 22, 2024: Pending appeal
    • June 4, 2025: Convicted
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
Yes

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
State

Journalist arrested while covering North Carolina homeless camp eviction

Incident Details

Updated on
June 4, 2025
Date of incident
December 25, 2021
Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Case number
1:24-cv-00307
Targets
Veronica Coit (The Asheville Blade)
Case status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Asheville Police Department
Charges →
  • Trespassing
    • Dec. 26, 2021: Charges pending
    • April 19, 2023: Convicted
    • April 19, 2023: Pending appeal
    • June 16, 2023: Convicted
    • March 22, 2024: Pending appeal
    • June 4, 2025: Convicted
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Texas journalist files suit following arrest, equipment seizure

Incident Details

Updated on
May 15, 2024
Date of incident
December 21, 2021
Location
Damon, Texas
Case number
4:22-cv-04210
Targets
Justin Pulliam (Independent)
Case status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in part
Search warrant obtained →
Yes

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
State

Former BuzzFeed reporter ordered to submit documents in lawsuit against Kevin Spacey

Incident Details

Date of incident
December 6, 2021
Location
New York, New York
Targets
Adam Vary (BuzzFeed News)

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
  • subpoena for communications or work product
    • Dec. 6, 2021: Pending
    • Dec. 14, 2021: Objected to
    • Dec. 16, 2021: Ignored
    • Dec. 29, 2021: Pending
    • Jan. 12, 2022: Objected to
    • Feb. 22, 2022: Pending
    • Feb. 28, 2022: Objected to
    • May 19, 2022: Upheld
    • May 23, 2022: Objected to
    • Aug. 9, 2022: Upheld
    • Aug. 15, 2022: Carried out
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
Federal

Photojournalist arrested, equipment seized while documenting homeless encampment

Incident Details

Updated on
July 23, 2024
Date of incident
November 30, 2021
Location
Sausalito, California
Case number
3:22-cv-01029
Targets
Jeremy Portje (Freelance)
Case status
Settled
Type of case
Civil

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status →
Arrested and released
Arresting authority →
Sausalito Police Department
Charges →
Detention date →
Release date →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Assault

Assailant →
Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →
Yes
Equipment searched or seized →
Status of equipment →
Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →
Yes

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal orders →
Legal order target →
Journalist
Legal order venue →
State
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